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Palm Island [VHF:16] was for many years an uninhabited island called Prune Island. John and Mary Caldwell fell in love with it, built a small hotel, and planted palm trees. John was a real character, and his early sailing experiences are outlined in his famous book, Desperate Voyage. John had a long and interesting life, which eventually reached its end. Palm Island was bought by the same group that owns the St. James Club in Antigua, who have upgraded it to a first-class resort with many lovely, tall thatched roofs and upgraded rooms. The anchorage is off the docks, and holding is fair in 15 to 20 feet, with a sand bottom. The anchorage can be rolly, so check it out for lunch and if you feel comfortable there, stay overnight. There is a dock you can use for your dinghy, but you must use a stern anchor to keep it from riding underneath where it could be damaged; you also have to leave plenty of room for local boats to come onto the outer end and south side of the dock. Palm Island’s Casuarina Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Windwards; a gorgeous expanse of golden sand lapped by translucent turquoise water ~ the ultimate picture-perfect Grenadine beach. When you step ashore, turn right and you will find a boutique that sells essentials, casual-wear, and souvenirs. The Coco Palm beach bar and restaurant is a few steps further on. It is open to the sea and serves both elegant light lunches and heartier dinners. It is pleasant but geared for the well-heeled. When the very charming waitress gave me the bill for two fruit punches, she said, "You probably won’t believe this..." True, I could have bought 15 beers in Bequia’s New York Bar for the same price, but the surroundings are secluded. Yachts are welcome to enjoy the beach area around the Coco Palm and the shoreline to the south. You can also climb over the rope close to the dock and walk along Casuarina Beach, if you stay fairly close to the water’s edge. (One chain above high water is public.) Please respect the privacy of the hotel rooms and facilities. If you think you might want to stay here someday and want to look around, talk with a security guard; he may be able to arrange a tour.
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Palm Island
